Ancillary device for detaching implants

ABSTRACT

A pull wire can be retracted from a catheter by using a retraction system having an opening sized to pass through the pull wire and engage the catheter, two clamps positioned around the pull wire, a shuttle on which the clamps are mounted, and a slider having at least one contact for contacting and moving one or both clamps. To retract the pull wire, the slider can be moved proximally, the contact(s) can engage one or both clamps on the shuttle, the clamps can move so that the clamps come together and grip the pull wire, and the slider can then be moved further proximally to translate the shuttle, clamps, and pull wire proximally thereby extracting the pull wire from the catheter. The shuttle and slider can subsequently be moved distally without translating the pull wire.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/269,828 filed Feb. 7, 2019, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to medical devices, and moreparticularly, to deploying intraluminal implants.

BACKGROUND

Numerous intravascular implant devices and clot capture devices areknown in the field. Many are deployed and manipulated mechanically, viasystems that combine one or more catheters and wires for delivery.Examples of implants that can be delivered mechanically include embolicelements, stents, grafts, drug delivery implants, flow diverters,filters, stimulation leads, sensing leads, or other implantablestructures delivered through a microcatheter. Some obstetric andgastrointestinal implants can also be implanted via similar systems thatcombine one or more catheters and wires. Devices that can be released,deployed, or otherwise manipulated by mechanical means vary greatly indesign but can employ a similar delivery catheter and wire system.

Many such catheter-based delivery systems include a catheter and aninner elongated member (or members) such as an inner catheter or wire,the catheter and inner elongated member(s) configured to retain animplant in the catheter until the time for release of the implant. Thesesystems can be actuated by retracting or pulling one or more of theinner elongated member(s) relative to the catheter. Such a wire or innerelongated member is referred to herein as a “pull wire”. Precisedeployment of the implant is crucial for the successful treatment ofvascular and luminal abnormalities. For some applications, complicationscan arise if a pull wire is pulled proximally and then subsequentlypushed distally. It is an object of the invention to provide systems,devices, and methods for reducing complications in such applications.

SUMMARY

Example systems and methods for retracting a pull wire from a mechanicalintravascular implant device can address the above needs. In someexamples, a pull wire can be retracted from a catheter with a retractionsystem having two clamps mounted to a sliding shuttle and a sliderhaving at least one contact for contacting and moving one or both of thetwo clamps. The pull wire can be positioned between gripping areas onthe two clamps when the clamps are in an open position. Then, when theslider is moved proximally, the contact (or contacts) on the slider canengage one or both clamps on the shuttle, causing at least one of theclamps to move so that the gripping areas come together and grip thepull wire. The slider can then be moved further proximally to translatethe sliding shuttle, clamps, and pull wire proximally. The retractionsystem can have a tapered opening through which the pull wire can freelypass but the catheter cannot pass, so that while the pull wire is pulledproximally, the catheter is held in place.

An example retraction system for withdrawing an inner elongated memberof an implantation delivery system from a catheter can have a firstclamp, a second clamp, a shuttle on which the clamps are mounted, acontact, and a slider on which the contact is mounted. The shuttle andthe slider can each be translated in a proximal and a distal direction.The retraction system can be configured so that a first translation ofthe slider in the proximal direction translates the first contactproximally to apply a first force from the first contact to the firstclamp, the first force moving the first clamp to move the clamps from anopen position to a closed position. The first clamp can have a firstgripping area, and the second clamp can have a second gripping area. Inthe open position the first gripping area and the second gripping areacan be positioned to allow the inner elongated member of theimplantation delivery system to pass through. In the closed position thefirst gripping area and the second gripping area can be positioned toengage the inner elongated member. The retraction system can beconfigured so that a second translation of the slider in the proximaldirection can proximally translate the first clamp arm and the secondclamp arm to proximally withdraw the inner elongated member from thecatheter of the implantation delivery system while the catheter is heldin place by the retraction system.

The slider of the retraction system can include a second contact. Theretraction system can be configured so that the first translation of theslider translates both the first and the second contact proximally toapply a second force from the second contact to the second clamp, thesecond force moving the second clamp from the open position to theclosed position. The first force and the second force can be applied tothe clamps simultaneously to move the clamps in concert from the openposition to the closed position.

The retraction system can include a housing sized to be hand-held, andthe shuttle and the slider can be slidably mounted to the housing.

The retraction system can include a distal mounting block, a proximalmounting block, and a rail extending between the distal mounting blockand the proximal mounting block. The shuttle and the slider can each beslidably mounted on the rail. The distal mounting block and the proximalmounting block can be mountable to a flat surface, can be mounted orrested on a patient, and/or can be mounted within a hand-held retractor.The distal mounting block can have a first opening for receiving theimplantation delivery system. The first opening can be integrated into ahousing of the hand-held retractor. The first opening can be sized toinhibit proximal movement of the catheter and to allow the innerelongated member to pass through.

The retraction system can include a return spring positioned to apply areturn spring force between the slider and the distal mounting block.The return spring force can be sufficient to move the slider in thedistal direction in relation to the distal mounting block. Theretraction system can be configured so that a third translation of theslider in the distal direction can cause the first contact to move anddisengage the first clamp. The retraction system can be configured sothat the third translation of the slider in the distal direction cancause both the first and second contacts to move and disengage the firstand second clamps.

The retraction system can have a first spring positioned to apply afirst spring force on the first clamp, and the first spring force can besufficient to move the first clamp from the closed position to the openposition when the first contact is disengaged from the first clamp. Thefirst clamp can be rotatable about a first rotating joint. The firstclamp can be attached to the shuttle at the first rotating joint. Thefirst spring force can produce a first rotation of the first clamp aboutthe first rotating joint.

The second clamp can be stationary, or it can be movable. If movable,the second clamp can be movable as a mirror image of the first clamp,and the pair of clamps can be movable from the open position to theclosed position and vice versa by movement of both clamps. Theretraction system can include a second contact on the slider that ispositioned to engage the second clamp. The first and second contacts canengage and/or disengage the first and second clamps simultaneously. Theretraction system can include a second spring positioned to apply asecond spring force on the second clamp, and the second spring force canbe sufficient to move the second clamp from the closed position to theopen position when the second contact is disengaged from the secondclamp. The second clamp can be rotatable about a second rotating joint.The second clamp can be attached to the shuttle at the second rotatingjoint. The second spring force can produce a second rotation of thesecond clamp about the second rotating joint.

An example system for deploying an implant can include an entrance, apair of clamp arms, a shuttle, and a slider. The entrance can be sizedto receive an elongated release member of an implant delivery system andinhibit proximal movement of a catheter of the implant delivery system.At least one clamp arm of the pair of clamp arms can be rotatable froman open position to a closed position. In the open position, the pair ofclamp arms can be disengaged from the elongated release member and inthe closed position the pair of clamp arms can be engaged with theelongated release member. The pair of clamp arms can be mounted to theshuttle, and the shuttle can be translatable in a proximal direction anda distal direction. The slider can be translatable in the proximal anddistal directions to engage or disengage one or both of the rotatableclamp arms so that upon an initial proximal movement of the slider, theslider contacts the rotatable clamp arm(s) and provides a force torotate the rotatable clamp arm(s) to move the clamp arms from the openposition to the closed position. The slider can be further translatedproximally to translate the shuttle and the pair of clamp armsproximally, and the proximal translation of the pair of clamp arms canproximally withdraw the elongated release member from the catheter.

The system can include a housing sized to be hand-held, and the shuttleand the slider can be slidably mounted to the housing.

The example system can include a distal mounting block, a proximalmounting block, and a rail extending between the distal and proximalmounting blocks. The shuttle and slider can each be slidably mounted onthe rail. The system can include four rails.

The system can include an entrance that is a tapered opening in thedistal mounting block. The tapered opening can be sized to allow theelongated release member to pass through and to engage a proximal end ofthe catheter.

The system can be configured such that a distal translation of theslider can cause the slider to separate from the shuttle and todisengage from the rotatable clamp arm(s).

The system can include at least one spring, and each spring can bepositioned to apply a force to one or both of the rotatable clamp arms.The force from each spring can move each spring-loaded clamp arm so thatthe pair of clamp arms moves from the closed position to the openposition or from the open position to the closed position.

An example method can include steps for deploying an implant. The methodcan include providing an implant delivery system, the implant deliverysystem including a catheter, an inner elongated member positioned withinthe catheter and extending proximally from the catheter. The method caninclude providing a retraction system comprising an entrance, a slider,a shuttle, and a pair of clamp arms mounted to the shuttle.

The method can include positioning the pair of clamp arms in an openposition. The method can include positioning the inner elongated memberthrough the entrance of the retraction system and between the pair ofopen clamp arms such that clamp arms are disengaged from the innerelongated member. The method can include engaging the catheter of theimplant delivery system to the entrance of the retraction system.

The method can include moving the slider proximally through a firstdistance to contact at least one of the clamp arms. The method caninclude moving the slider proximally through a second distance to movethe clamp arm(s) that is/are in contact with the slider, thereby movingthe pair of clamp arms from the open position to a closed position, suchthat in the closed position, the clamp arms are engaged with the innerelongated member. The clamp arm(s) that is/are in contact with theslider can each be rotatable about a respective rotating joint, and thestep of moving the slider proximally through the second distance canfurther include rotating the clamp arm(s) in contact with the sliderabout each respective rotating joint.

The method can include moving the slider proximally through a thirddistance to move the shuttle and the clamp arms proximally, therebywithdrawing the inner elongated member proximally from the catheterwhile maintaining the position of the catheter.

The method can include moving the slider distally through a fourthdistance to disengage the slider form the clamp arm(s). The position ofthe inner elongated member can be maintained as the slider is moveddistally. This step can further include maintaining the position of theshuttle as the slider is moved distally through the fourth distance.

The retraction system can include one or more springs, and the methodcan include providing a force from each of the springs to each of themovable clamp arms to move the clamp arms from the closed position tothe open position when the slider is not engaged with the clamp arm(s).

The retraction system provided can further include a distal mountingblock, a proximal mounting block, and a rail. The method can furtherinclude extending the rail between the distal mounting block and theproximal mounting block, slidably mounting the slider to the rail, andslidably mounting the shuttle to the rail proximal to the slider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further aspects of this invention are further discussedwith reference to the

following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like numerals indicate like structural elements and features invarious figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon illustrating principles of the invention. Thefigures depict one or more implementations of the inventive devices, byway of example only, not by way of limitation.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are illustrations of an exemplary retraction systemaccording to aspects of the present invention, FIG. 1B being across-sectional view of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an implant delivery system that can be usedtogether with an exemplary retraction system according to aspects of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations of an exemplary retraction system witha proximal portion of an implant delivery system positioned in theretraction system, the retraction system and implant delivery systempositioned prior to retraction of a pull wire from the implant deliverysystem according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A through 4D are illustrations depicting cut-away views of anexemplary retraction system executing example steps for deploying animplant according to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4E is an illustration depicting a top-down view of the retractionsystem as positioned in FIG. 4D;

FIGS. 5A through 5D are illustrations depicting cross-sectional viewsand top-down views of an exemplary retraction system executing examplesteps for releasing a pull wire and returning to a starting positionaccording to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary retraction system including areturn spring according to aspects of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of a top and side angled view (FIG.7A) and a side perspective view (FIG. 7B) of an exemplary retractionsystem in a starting position according to aspects of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations of a side perspective view (FIG. 8A)and a top perspective view (FIG. 8B) of an exemplary retraction systemhaving clamps in a closed position according to aspects of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of a side perspective view (FIG. 9A)and a top perspective view (FIG. 9B) of an exemplary retraction systemhaving clamps in an open position according to aspects of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations of a pair of clamp arms includingone rotatable clamp arm and one non-rotating clamp arm in an openposition (FIG. 10A) and a closed position (FIG. 10B) according toaspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Mechanical implant delivery systems, clot capture systems, and othersystems actuated by an inner tube/outer tube assembly in which the innertube translates relative to the outer tube can utilize one or morehypotubes or pull wires within a guide catheter, and the hypotubesand/or pull wires can be available for manipulation at a proximal end ofthe delivery system to deploy an implant, capture a clot, or performother intralumenal treatment at a distal end of the delivery system.Examples of implants that can be delivered mechanically include embolicelements, stents, grafts, drug delivery implants, flow diverters,filters, stimulation leads, sensing leads, or other implantablestructures deliverable through a microcatheter. Example retractionsystems described herein can interface with the proximal end of thedelivery system to aid the user in detaching and/or deploying an implantor capturing a clot at the distal end.

The example retraction systems can generally include a system ofcomponents that can retract the inner hypotube(s) and/or pull wire(s)without producing distal movement of the hypotube(s)/pull wire(s) andtheir subcomponents during and after release of an implant. The exampleretraction system can include a mechanical slider that a user cantranslate in a single linear motion. The slider, when retracted, canapply a torque to one or both clamp arms in a pair of clamp arms. Thetorque can move the clamp arms to compress and grip onto a proximalinner tube or pull wire. The gripped elongated member can be translatedwith respect to the main delivery tube by proximally sliding the slider.The retraction system can include an indicator that indicates to theuser when the slider has reached its end of travel, or example theindicator can be a tactile and/or auditory indicator. The traveldistance of the slider can be sized such that the implant is released asthe slider approaches, or reaches, its end of travel. The indicator canindicate to the user that the implant has been released.

The retraction system can include one or more springs that arepositioned to cause the clamps to open and release the engaged elongatedmember when the user releases pressure on the slider. The retractionsystem can include a mechanism (such as a spring or known means) forreturning the retraction system to a starting or initial position.

Potentially the retraction system can provide a more reliable detachmentof an embolic or other implant on a mechanical detachment systemcompared to traditional retraction systems. More reliable detachment canbe achieved by retracting a pull wire, inner tube, pull wire/inner tubeassembly, or other elongated member proximally without producingadvancement or distal movement of implant delivery system componentsduring and after release of an implant.

FIGs. 1A and 1B are illustrations of an exemplary retraction system 100.FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A. FIGS. 1A and 1B showcomponents of the exemplary retraction system 100 in a starting orinitial position with a proximal portion of an implant delivery systemhaving a delivery catheter 410 and an inner tube, pull wire, or innertube and pull wire assembly 310 (“pull wire”) positioned in theretraction system 100 and ready for deployment of an implant (orintraluminal procedure).

The retraction system 100 can include a shuttle 130 having clamps 144,146 for grasping the pull wire 310, a slider 120 movable by a user, oneor more slide rails 116 over which the shuttle 130 and the slider 120can slide, a distal mounting block 114 for receiving the implantdelivery system and providing an anchor for the slide rails 116, andproximal mounting block 112 for anchoring the slide rails 116. Theretraction system 100 can be configured to receive a delivery catheter410 and the pull wire 310 of the implant delivery system, grasp the pullwire 310, engage a proximal end of the delivery catheter 410, and pullthe pull wire 310 to retract the pull wire 310 from the deliverycatheter 410.

The system 100 can be mounted within a hand-held retractor, can bemounted on a flat surface, or can be mounted on a patient. When thesystem 100 is mounted within a hand-held retractor or handle, the distalmounting block 114 and the proximal mounting block 112 can be integralparts of a housing or shell of the hand-held retractor. The system 100can include one or more rails 116 that extend between the distalmounting block 114 and the proximal mounting block 112. When the system100 is mounted within a hand-held retractor, the rail or rails 116 canextend between portions of a housing of the hand-held retractor and/orbe integrated into the housing. The rails 116 can be grooves or tracksin the housing or handle shell. The retraction system 100 can include anopening 118 that is sized to allow the pull wire 310 to pass through butinhibit the delivery catheter 410 from passing through. The opening 118can be tapered for ease of aligning the pull wire 310 and deliverycatheter 410 in relation to the system 100, for ease of inserting thepull wire 310 into the system 100, and/or for ease of securely engaginga range of various sized delivery catheters. The opening 118 can bepositioned in the distal mounting block 114.

The implant delivery system 300 can be inserted into a self-aligningtapered opening 118 at the entrance of the retraction system 100. Themain delivery catheter 410 can have a hard stop at the entrance 118 ofthe device, and the inner elongated member 310 can be free to enter theretraction system 100. The inner elongated member 310 can be insertedthrough the distal mounting block 114, slider 120, and shuttle 130.

The slider 120 can include an opening 128 sized to allow the pull wire310 to pass through. The slider 120 can include a handle 122 that can begrasped by a user or otherwise directly or indirectly manipulated by theuser to move the slider 120. The slider 120 can include one or morecontacts 124, 126 for engaging and providing a force against one or moreof the clamp arms 144, 146 on the shuttle 130. The slider 120 caninclude a first contact 124 and a second contact 126 that arerespectively positioned to engage and provide a first force and a secondforce against a first clamp arm 144 and a second clamp arm 146. Theslider 120 can be mounted on the rails 116, and the slider 120 can movealong the rails 116 in a distal direction 12 and a proximal direction14.

The shuttle 130 can include a pair of clamp arms 144, 146 that aremovable from an open position that allows the pull wire 310 to passthrough to a closed position that grips the pull wire 310. The clamps144, 146 can be mounted to the shuttle 130, and one or both clamps 144,146 can be movable. One or both clamps 144, 146 can be mounted to theshuttle 130 at a rotating joint 154, 156. Each clamp 144, 146 can rotateabout its respective rotating joint 154, 156, the rotation moving theclamps 144, 146 from the open position to the closed position, and viceversa. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the clamps 144, 146 in the openposition and an inner tube or pull wire 310 positioned between theclamps 144, 146 so that pull wire 310 is not engaged by the clamps 144,146. A first spring 134 can be mounted to the shuttle 130, and the firstspring 134 can apply a first spring force to the first clamp arm 144.The first force can be provided in a direction to move and/or maintainthe first clamp 144 in the open position. A second spring 136 can bemounted to the shuttle 130, and the second spring 136 can apply a secondspring force to the second clamp arm 146. The second force can beprovided in a direction to move and/or maintain the second clamp 146 inthe open position. The shuttle 130 can be mounted to the rails 116, andthe shuttle 130 can move along the rails in the proximal direction 12and the distal direction 14. The shuttle 130 can be positioned proximalthe slider 120. One or more spacer pins 138 can be slidably mountedthrough the shuttle 130, and the spacer pins can be manipulated tomaintain a set spacing between the slider 120 and the shuttle 130, orthe spacer pins 138 can be allowed to move so that the spacing betweenthe slider 120 and the shuttle 130 can be collapsed.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a proximal portion of a mechanical implantdelivery system 300 (or other intralumenal treatment device) that can beused together with an exemplary retraction system 100. The deliverysystem 300 can include an inner tube, pull wire, inner tube and pullwire assembly, or some other elongated member 310 designed to beretracted from a proximal end 412 of a delivery catheter 410 during anintralumenal treatment. The elongated member 310 can be grasped by theretraction system 100 near its proximal end 312 and pulled proximallyfrom the delivery catheter 410.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations of an exemplary retraction system 100with an implant delivery system 300 positioned in the retraction system100, the retraction system 100 and implant delivery system 300positioned prior to retraction of a pull wire 310 from the implantdelivery system 300. FIG. 3A is a perspective view. FIG. 3B is atop-down view. Referring collectively to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the initialposition, a slider 120 can be positioned at a distal end of its lengthof travel, and a shuttle 130 can be positioned near the slider 120 anddisengaged from the slider 120 at a distal end of the shuttle's lengthof travel. The length of travel for both the slider 120 and the shuttle130 can be determined at least in part by the positioning of a distalmounting block 114, a proximal mounting block 112, and one or more rails116. A spacer pin 138 or multiple spacer pins 138 can be slidablymounted through the shuttle 130 and extended to maintain a spacingbetween the slider 120 and the shuttle 130.

FIGS. 4A through 4D are illustrations depicting cross sectional views ofan exemplary retraction system 100 executing example steps for retracinga pull wire 310 from a catheter 410. FIG. 4A illustrates the exemplaryretraction system 100 in an initial position such as illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B. The delivery catheter 410 of an implant delivery system300 can be engaged at an entrance 118 of the retraction system 100. Thepull wire 310 can be inserted through the entrance 118, through anopening 128 in the slider 120, and between clamp arms 144, 146.

The retraction system 100 can have a first clamp arm 144 with a firstgripping area 145 and a second clamp arm 146 with a second gripping area147. When the retraction system 100 is in the initial position, the pullwire 310 of an implant delivery system 300 can be positioned between thefirst gripping area 145 and the second gripping area 147 but not grippedby the first gripping area 145 or the second gripping area 147.

The retraction system 100 can include a slider 120 that includes a firstcontact 124 and a second contact 126, each contact 124, 126 can bepositioned to engage each of the clamp arms 144, 146 upon movement ofthe slider 120 toward the clamp arms 144, 146. The contacts 124, 126 canbe disengaged from the clamp arms 144, 146 when the retraction system100 is in the initial position. The retraction system 100 can include afirst spring 134 and a second spring 136 for opening the clamp arms 144,146. When the retraction system 100 is in the initial position, thefirst spring 134 can be positioned to maintain the first clamp arm 144in the open position and the second spring 136 can be positioned tomaintain the second clamp arm 146 in the open position. The first clamparm 144 can be mounted to a shuttle 130 at a first rotating joint 154,and the second clamp arm 146 can be mounted to the shuttle 130 at asecond rotating joint 156. The first spring 134 and the second spring136 can each be mounted to the shuttle 130, and the first and secondsprings 134, 136 can inhibit rotation of the first and second clamp arms144, 146 about the respective rotating joints 154, 156 when theretraction system 100 is in the initial position.

The slider 120 and the shuttle 130 can each be slidably mounted to rails116 that allow the slider 120 and the shuttle 130 to move in a distaldirection 12 and a proximal direction 14, the rails 116 inhibitingmovement of the slider 120 and the shuttle 130 in lateral directionsorthogonal to the distal and proximal directions 12, 14. The rails 116can extend between a distal mounting block 114 and a proximal mountingblock 112. When the retraction system 100 is in the initial position,the slider 120 and the shuttle 130 can be positioned near a distal endof the rails 116, near the distal mounting block 114.

The slider 120 can include a retraction handle 122 that a user canmanipulate to move the slider 120 from the initial position illustratedin FIG. 4A to the subsequent positions illustrated in FIGS. 4B through4D. The retraction system 100 can be designed such that a user canretract the handle 122 by gripping the handle 122 and pulling the handletoward their body. Alternatively, if the retraction system 100 includesa hand-held device, the retraction system 100 can be designed such thatthe user grips the hand-held device with a hand while using their thumbor a finger to move a slider or a trigger that is the handle 122 on theslider 120 or a mechanism in communication with the handle 122 on theslider 120.

FIG. 4B illustrates the retraction system 100 moved from the initialposition illustrated in FIG. 4A such that the slider 120 is moved in theproximal direction 12 to engage the first contact 124 on the slider 120with the first clamp arm 144 on the shuttle 130 and to engage the secondcontact 126 on the slider 120 with the second clamp arm 146 on theshuttle 130. In the instant illustrated in FIG. 4B, the pair of clamparms 144, 146 can remain in the open position such that the inner tube310 is not engaged by the first gripping area 145 or the second grippingarea 147 of the first and second clamps 144, 146, and the shuttle 130has not moved from its initial position.

FIG. 4C illustrates the retraction system 100 moved so that the slider120 is pulled proximally and provides a force to the pair of clamps 144,146 that causes the clamps 144, 146 to move from the open positionillustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B to a closed position illustrated in FIG.4C. In the closed position, the first gripping area 145 and the secondgripping area 147 approach each other so that the pull wire 310 isengaged and gripped between the gripping areas 145, 147 of the pair ofclamps 144, 146. The force provided by the slider 120 to the clamps 144,146 can be sufficient to overcome the first spring force provided by thefirst spring 134 and the second spring force provided by the secondspring 136 to cause the clamps 144, 146 to move to the closed position.A friction force between the shuttle 130 and the rails 116 can preventthe shuttle from moving as the clamps 144, 146 are opened. Additionally,or alternatively, the system 100 can include a deflecting beam overwhich the shuttle 130 can slide, the deflecting beam providing acontrolled resistive force against which the shuttle 130 can slide. Theuser can translate the slider as illustrated in FIG. 4C by pulling thepull handle 122 of the slider 120. At the instant illustrated in FIG.4C, the pull wire 310 is gripped by the pair of clamps 144, 146, but thepull wire 310 and the shuttle 130 have not moved from their initialposition.

The clamps 144, 146 can have an “L” shape. The “L” shaped clamps 144,146 can be positioned on the shuttle 130 so that the undersides of the“L” shapes are positioned opposite each other, and the upper part of the“L” shapes are positioned to be contacted by the slider 120. Therespective gripping areas 145, 147 of each clamp 144, 146 can bepositioned on an underside of each “L” shape. The force provided by theslider 120 to each respective clamp 144, 146 can be provided against thebackside of the “L” shape near the top of the “L” shape as illustratedin FIG. 4C. Each contact 124, 126 on the slider 120 can be positioned toprovide the force from the slider to the backside of each “L” shapedclamp 144, 146 near the top of each “L”. Each “L” shaped contact canrotate about a rotating joint 154, 156. Each rotating joint 154, 156 canbe positioned at the corner of each “L” shape. The first spring 134 andthe second spring 136 can be connected to each respective “L” shape nearthe top of the “L” shape on the inside of the “L” shape, positionedopposite each respective contact 124, 126.

FIG. 4D illustrates the retraction system 100 with the shuttle 130 andthe pull wire 310 moved proximally. Once the clamp arms 144, 146 arerotated to grip the pull wire 310 as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the shuttle130 can begin to translate as the slider 120 is moved proximally, andthe pull wire 130 can begin to be extracted from the catheter 410. Theuser can continue to pull the slider 120 proximally, thereby pulling thepull wire 310 out of catheter 410 until a desired distance is reached.By pulling back on the pull wire 310 while holding the catheter 410stationary at the entrance 118 of the retractor system 100, the implantdetachment step (or other such intralumenal treatment step) can becompleted. When the slider 120 has reached its end of travel, the slider120 components of the retraction system 100 can inhibit further proximalmovement of the slider 120, thereby providing an indication to the userthat the handle or mechanism has completed its cycle, thereby completingthe treatment step. The implant (or other treatment device) can beviewed under fluoroscopy to verify that detachment (or other treatmentstep) has been properly completed.

FIG. 4E illustrates the retraction system 100 in the positionillustrated in FIG. 4D from a top-down view. FIG. 4D is across-sectional view of the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 4E asindicated in FIG. 4E.

FIGS. 5A through 5D are illustrations depicting an exemplary retractionsystem 100 executing example steps for releasing the pull wire 310 andreturning to the initial position. After detachment of an implant iscomplete, a user can release pressure on a slider 120, and springs 134,136 can automatically move clamp arms 144, 146 open, thereby releasingthe clamps 144, 146 from the proximal inner tube or pull wire 310. Oncethe pull wire 310 is released, the shuttle 130 and slider 120 can bemoved proximally to return the system 100 to a starting position withoutproximally translating the pull wire 310. The system 100 can be returnedto the starting position manually or automatically.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an exemplary retractionsystem 100 immediately after releasing a pull wire 310 followingcompletion of the implant detachment step (or other such intralumenaltreatment step). After completion of the treatment step, the user canallow a slider 120 to disengage clamps 144, 146. The user can release aretraction handle 122, and a first spring force and the second springforce can be sufficient to move the first clamp 144 and the second clamp146 to the open position. The pull wire 310 can become disengaged bymoving the pair of clamps 144, 146 from the closed position to the openposition. Once the pull wire 310 is disengaged from the clamps 144, 146,a shuttle 130 and the clamps 144, 146 can be moved without moving thepull wire 310 in relation to a delivery catheter 410. FIG. 5Aillustrates a first gripping area 145 and a second gripping area 147separated to release the pull wire 310.

FIG. 5B illustrates the retraction system 100 positioned as illustratedin FIG. 5A from a top-down view. The retraction system 100 can includespacer pins 138 slidably mounted in the shuttle 130. As the slider 120moves to disengage the clamps 144, the slider can move away from theshuttle 130. Each spacer pin 138 can be affixed to the slider 120 andslidably mounted with a slip fit through the shuttle 130 so that the endof each spacer pin 138 is attached to the slider 120, and each pin 138slides through the shuttle 130 as the slider 120 moves distally awayfrom the shuttle 130 (the slider 120 moving from a position illustratedin FIGS. 4D and 4E to a position illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B). Thisconfiguration can be advantageous as both the shuttle 130 and the slider120 can be translated distally when the slider 120 is pulled distally.Heads of each spacer pin can engage the shuttle 130, and the shuttle canbe dragged distally by the pins 138 when the slider is pulled distally.

FIG. 5C is a top-down view illustrating the movement of the shuttle 130and the slider 120 distally following release of the pull wire 310 asillustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The shuttle 130 and slider 120 can bemoved distally by either applying a force to each spacer pin 138 asindicated by the arrows in FIG. 5C, or by pushing the slider 120distally via the pull handle 122. In either case, the spacer pins 138can maintain a spacing between the shuttle 130 and the slider 120. Eachspacer pin 138 can have a head that can engage the shuttle 130. Theshuttle 130 can be moved distally by further providing the force againstthe spacer pins 138, and the spacer pins 138 can maintain a spacingbetween the contacts 124, 126 and the clamps 144, 146 so that thecontacts 124, 126 don't engage the clamps 144, 146 as the shuttle 130and the slider 120 are moved distally. The clamps 144, 146 can remain inthe open position as the shuttle 130 and slider 120 are moved distally,and the pull wire 310 and delivery catheter 410 can maintain theirextended position as the shuttle 130 and slider 120 are moved distally.

FIG. 5D illustrates the retraction system 100 returned to the initialposition. The slider 120 can be slid distally along the rails 116 untilit is stopped by the distal mounting block 114. The shuttle 130 can bemoved distally so long as the clamps 144, 146 remain in the openposition. The shuttle 130 can be moved distally until the clamps 144,146 encounter contacts 124, 126 on the slider. The spacer pins 138 canbe positioned to maintain a space between the shuttle 130 and the slider120 so that the contacts 124, 126 do not contact the clamps 144, 146when the shuttle 130 reaches its distal end of travel.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary retraction system 100including a return spring 160. The return spring 160 can be mountedbetween the slider 120 and the distal mounting block 114 so that thereturn spring 160 provides a spring force that pulls the slider 120distally toward the initial position or maintains the slider 120 in theinitial position. The return spring 160 can be in a relaxed state whenthe slider 120 is in the initial position and in an extended state whenthe slider 120 is moved proximally from the initial position. A user canprovide a force to overcome the spring force and move the slider 120proximally then release the slider 120 to allow the return spring 160 toreturn the slider 120 to the initial position. As the slider 120 isfirst moved proximally, the slider 120 can engage the clamps 144, 146,causing the clamps 144, 146 to grip a pull wire 310, and move theshuttle 130 proximally. When the slider 120 is subsequently released,the slider 120 can disengage from the clamps 144, 146 and allow theshuttle 130 to remain in its present position while the slider 120returns to the initial position. The retraction system 100 can beconfigured such that the slider 120 can be moved proximally again toengage the clamps 144, 146, grip the pull wire 310, and move the shuttle130 through a second distance, thereby further extending the pull wire310 from the catheter 410. Additionally, or alternatively, the system100 can include a tension spring mounted to connect the slider 120 andthe proximal mounting block 112 functional to return and/or maintain theslider 120 at the initial position.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of a top and side angled view (FIG.7A) and a side perspective view (FIG. 7B) of an exemplary retractionsystem 100 in an initial position wherein the slider 120 and shuttle 130are positioned at their distal end of travel and the clamp arms 144, 146are open.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations of a side perspective view (FIG. 8A)and a top perspective view (FIG. 8B) of an exemplary retraction system100 having clamps 144, 146 in a closed position. The system 100 caninclude spacer pins 138 that can be moved from an extended position asillustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B to a retracted position as illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B. In the extended position, the spacer pins 138 candefine a spacing between the slider 120 and shuttle 130 so that thecontacts 124, 126 are separated from the clamp arms 144, 146. In theretracted position, the spacer pins can move to allow the contacts 124,126 to engage the clamp arms 144, 146.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of a side perspective view (FIG. 9A)and a top perspective view (FIG. 9B) of an exemplary retraction system100 having contacts 124, 126 in contact with clamps 144, 146 and theclamps 144, 146 in an open position. The retraction system 100 caninclude spacer pins 138 attached to the slider 120 and slidably mountedthrough the shuttle 130. As the slider 120 moves from a position asillustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B to a position as illustrated in FIGS. 9Aand 9B, the pins 138 can slide through the shuttle 138.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations of an alternative configuration of apair of clamp arms 144, 146 for a retraction system 100. The pair ofclamp arms 144,146 can include one rotatable clamp arm 144 and onenon-rotating clamp arm 146. FIG. 10A illustrates the clamp arms 144, 146in an open position. The rotating clamp arm 144 can be mounted to ashuttle 130 at a joint 154 and can rotate about the joint 154. Thenon-rotating clamp 146 can be affixed to the shuttle so that ittranslates proximally and distally together with the shuttle 130 anddoes not move in relation to the shuttle 130.

FIG. 10B illustrates the clamp arms 144, 146 in the closed position. Theslider 120 can contact the rotating clamp arm 144, causing it to rotateand approach the non-rotating clamp arm 146 so that the pair of clamparms 144, 146 grips a pull wire 310. The non-rotating clamp arm 146 canbe out of plane with the pull wire 320 so that when the rotating clamparm 144 is rotated, the pull wire 310 is slightly bent. Configuredthusly, in some configurations, the pull wire 310 can engage a largergripping area 147 on the non-rotating clamp arm 146 compared to examplesutilizing two rotating clamp arms and can thereby have a comparativeincreased grip strength.

The descriptions contained herein are examples of embodiments of theinvention and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of theinvention. As described herein, the invention contemplates manyvariations and modifications of the retraction system, includingalternative geometries for component parts, alternative materials forconstruction, alternative means for mounting movable components,alternative means for incorporating the retraction system into aretractor or larger device, etc. These modifications would be apparentto those having ordinary skill in the art to which this inventionrelates and are intended to be within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for deploying an implant, thesystem comprising: an entrance sized to receive an elongated releasemember of an implant delivery system and inhibit proximal movement of acatheter of the implant delivery system; a pair of clamp arms, at leastone clamp arm of the pair of clamp arms rotatable from an open positionto a closed position, the open position disengaged from the elongatedrelease member and the closed position engaged with the elongatedrelease member; a shuttle translatable in a proximal direction and adistal direction, on which the pair of clamp arms are mounted; and aslider translatable in the proximal direction and the distal direction,wherein upon a first proximal translation of the slider, the slidercontacts the at least one of the pair of clamp arms, and the sliderapplies force to rotate the at least one of the pair of clamp arms fromthe open position to the closed position, wherein upon the firstproximal translation of the slide, the slider contacts the other of thepair of clamp arms and applies a second force to the other of the pairof clamp arms to move the second clamp arm from the open position to theclosed position, wherein a second proximal translation of the sliderapplies force to translate the shuttle and the pair of clamp armsproximally, and the proximal translation of the pair of clamp armsproximally withdraws the elongated release member proximally from thecatheter, and wherein the slider contacts each clamp arm of the pair ofclamp arms simultaneously.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein upon adistal translation of the slider, the slider separates from the shuttleand disengages from the at least one clamp arm of the pair of clamparms.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the shuttle further comprises atleast one spring positioned to apply force to the at least one of thepair of clamp arms to move the at least one clamp arm of the pair ofclamp arms from the closed position to the open position.
 4. The systemof claim 3, wherein the shuttle further comprises a second springpositioned to apply force to the second clamp arm of the pair of clamparms to move the second clamp arm of the pair of clamp arms from theclosed position to the open position.
 5. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising: a distal mounting block, wherein the entrance is a taperedopening in the distal mounting block.
 6. The system of claim 5 furthercomprising: a return spring in communication with the slider and thedistal mounting block for applying a return spring force sufficient tomove the slider in a distal direction.
 7. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising: a housing sized to be hand-held to which the shuttle and theslider are slidably mounted.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one clamp arm of the pair of clamp arms is rotatable about a firstrotating joint and is attached to the shuttle at the first rotatingjoint.
 9. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a distal mountingblock; a proximal mounting block; and a rail extending between thedistal mounting block and the proximal mounting block, the shuttle andthe slider each slidably mounted on the rail.